Pupils at St Mary’s RC Primary School were treated to a special performance from The Highlanders army pipe band on Thursday before many received lessons in how to play the instruments.

Drum Major (Sergeant) Danny Brown introduced four pipers and three drummers from The 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland to the children to help promote the music and instruments to the next generation.

Drum Major Brown works with the community engagement project run by the army in Scotland called The Pipers Trail.

The army works with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, National Piping Centre and local pipe band groups to visit schools and teach children about the music.

The pipers and drummers of The 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland completed a six-month tour of Afghanistan last year and although based in Germany the musicians will be in Scotland for the next two months to focus on their piping and visit schools.

Drum Major Brown explained some of the perks he has experienced while being a member of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Pipe Band which he has been Drum Major for the last three years.

He said: “I have travelled the world, we’ve been everywhere. If you name a country we’ve either been there or been to a country next to it, we won a Brit Award for Classical Album of the Year in 2009, I’ve played in amazing places such as Las Vegas and the Sydney Opera House.

“I am hoping to raise awareness about pipe bands in Scotland, some people just think it is guys in skirts marching down the road what they don’t realise is that you can get a degree, a career and travel the world.

“Also the world champions at the moment are Canadian so I would like to change that.”

After the short concert which included renditions of Highland Cathedral and Scotland the Brave pupils took part in workshops which introduced them to the snare drum and the practice instrument for the bagpipes, the chanter.

IN DETAIL

Photo gallery of the visit from The Pipers Trail